The Coin-Op Catastrophe Collection
We'll try and stop the madness, maybe amuse some and hopefully stop further destruction of any classic coin-op game.
We'll try and stop the madness, maybe amuse some and hopefully stop further destruction of any classic coin-op game.
This collection of bad repair and even worst coin operated game restoration photographs and stories are here to show the world just how out of control things can get with inexperienced game collectors / restorers and even hack game restoration shops.We will feature in the 'What's Weak this Week' section some pictures of what we see inside of games during our daily repair and restorations with related stories.
The 'Lame List' will feature photos of parts that have been 'hacked' by game collectors, route owners and coin-op 'shopping shops' (or was that 'chopping shops').
We will include some amusing background stories, what was learned by the mistake done and even what we think about all the mind numbing coin-op disasters we see first hand or hear about.
This page will be built by Pinball Medic, the general world wide coin-op collectors community and route people, so if you have a picture or even just a story about a really unique repair or game restoration technique, please send us a form (submission form coming soon). Don't forget to include any photos with your tell. We will add them as soon as we can to this page and give you credit (if you want that) for the information.
All contact info is kept completely confidential. We will only post the first or last name (if given permission) and/or the state/country were the submission originated.
Note: Postings and stories about auction companies or personal gripes can't legally be posted here and therefore can't be accepted. The number of stories would be too numerous anyway.
Coin-Op Catastrophe
A plumber, while replacing a water heater ventilation duct, mis-steped and fail through the ceiling in this freakish accident. Thankfully, he only fell on the replaceable standard sized playfield glass on this wood rail
flipperless pinball. There would have been no way to find a good scoreboard glass for this rare 'Bally Reserve' pinball game.
Photos and story where submitted by an Austin, Texas customer
No one was hurt in this accident. Only the glass will Rest In Pieces.
Photos and story where submitted by an Austin, Texas customer
No one was hurt in this accident. Only the glass will Rest In Pieces.
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 Close up view of the damage. |
(Insert plumber's crack or hole jokes here.)
'What's Weak This Week'
We recently did an in-home service call on a Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles video arcade game. The controls were not working and when we went to remove the control panel, we found beer cans (cans, bottles and paper six pack cartons) laying on top of the plugged in power supply at the bottom of the game! We also found two used Bongs made out of plastic vacuum cleaner attachments. This was all removed in front of a very embarrassed game owner. Unfortunately, we probably got his kid grounded forever.
We wished we had taken some photos of the Bongs. Does lint add to the flavor?
Submitted by PBM - Austin, Texas
'The LAME LIST'
This game's owner tried to do some playfield Mylar removal using the "hot" or in this case the "way to hot" method. He took no time to do this the right way. Instead of using a hair dryer and some Goo-Gone to remove the Mylar and glue (a lost art form), he used a paint stripper hot air gun!
While this guy has no brains at all, it took a pair of really big pinballs to post these photos and admit to doing this to his good looking High Speed machine. We solute him for showing the worst technique for Mylar removal to the world.
Submission - This is a 'classic' R.G.P. post.
 Before the flames |
 After - The worst flame job we have ever seen. |
What we can't figure out is why, after the first section caught fire, the 'technique' was repeated.
Education can be costly.
Education can be costly.
